Pre-connection system readiness for receiving voice and data commands

Abstract

A pre-connection readiness system employs a telematics unit and a telematics call center. The telematics unit receives and stores pre-connection user information prior to a connection between the telematics unit and the telematics call center. The telematics unit and the telematics call center exchange the pre-connection user information subsequent to the connection between the telematics unit and the telematics call center.

1. A system, comprising:
 a telematics unit; and 
 a call center; 
 wherein the telematics unit includes means for receiving and storing pre-connection user information after initiating a connection between the telematics unit and the call center but prior to establishing the connection between the telematics unit and the call center; and 
 wherein the telematics unit and the call center include means for exchanging the received and stored pre-connection user information upon establishing the connection between the telematics unit and the call center. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the pre-connection user information includes one or more voice commands. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the exchange of the pre-connection user information between the telematics unit and the call center involves a speech to text conversion of the one or more voice commands. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  wherein the exchange of the pre-connection user information between the telematics unit and the call center involves an audio playback of the pre-connection user information by the call center. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2  wherein the exchange of the pre-connection user information between the telematics unit and the call center involves a routing of the connection to an appropriate advisor of the call center. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the pre-connection user information includes one or more computer data commands in the form of electronic data signals. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the exchange of the pre-connection user information between the telematics unit and the call center involves a data retrieval by the call center of the pre-connection user information from the telematics unit. 
     
     
       8. A method of establishing a connection between a telematics unit and a call center, the method comprising:
 initiating a connection from the telematics unit to the call center; 
 receiving and storing pre-connection user information after the connection is initiated but prior to establishing the connection; and 
 transmitting the received and stored pre-connection user information to the call center upon establishing the connection. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the pre-connection user information includes one or more voice commands. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the pre-connection user information includes one or more computer data commands in the form of electronic data signals. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 receiving the transmitted pre-connection user information; and 
 transmitting a call center reply responsive to the received pre-connection user information. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the call center reply is selected in response to the content of the pre-connection user information. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8  wherein the stored pre-connection user information is stored in memory until overwritten by new pre-connection user information. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 transmitting the pre-connection user information to an advisor. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the method of transmitting the pre-connection user information to an advisor is selected from the group consisting of replicated audio playback, display on a screen dialog box, display on a screen dialog box involving a speech-to-text conversion, data transfer, and operation of interactive voice response system. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 receiving the transmitted pre-connection user information; 
 parsing the received transmitted pre-connection user information to determine the contents of the pre-connection user information; and 
 routing the communication to a destination in response to the contents of the pre-connection user information. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of communicating from a telematics unit to a call center comprising:
 initiating a connection from the telematics unit to the call center; 
 receiving and storing pre-connection user information after the connection is initiated but prior to establishing the connection; 
 transmitting the received and stored pre-connection user information to the call center upon establishing the connection; 
 receiving a communication including the pre-connection user information at the call center; 
 parsing the pre-connection user information to determine the contents of the pre-connection user information; and 
 routing the communication in response to the contents of the pre-connection user information. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein the pre-connection user information includes one or more voice commands. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 transmitting a call center reply responsive to the contents of the pre-connection user information.